Sidewalk sign



Dec. l0, 1935. E, M, BURY 2,023,573

SIDEWALK SIGN Filed May 1s, 1935 f @am au Dfi-mj IAM PT a Il ,l s Yigg* /f/// INVENTOR.

a ATTORN EYS Patented- Dec. l0, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to an illuminated sidewalk sign, and the general object of the invention is to produce a sign of simple construction, which will operate to present reading matter to i 5 the View of persons passing in both directions along the sidewalk.

In its preferred embodiment, the sign includes two sign plates or signs, arranged in such a way that neither sign interferes with the reading of the other sign.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel parts and combination of parts to be described hereinafter,

all of which contribute to produce an eieient sidewalk sign.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, while the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan showing a short portion of a sidewalk, and illustrating a sign embodying my invention set in the sidewalk.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section upon an enlarged scale,

taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but illustrating another embodiment of the invention. In this view parts are broken away.

In practicing my invention, I provide a transparent cover that closes a recess in the sidewalk, and in this recess I provide a pair of signs located at an intermediate point under the cover and extending in a general horizontal direction.

These signs are inclined at an angle with respect to each other, and in such a way that a person approaching in one direction can read one of the signs, but cannot read the other. This enables each sign to be presented in an upright position to a person passing in one direction, but prevents the other sign, which would be in an inverted position, from being seen at the same time that the visible sign is being read. The signs may be opaque and illuminated by light thrown upon their outer surface, or they may be translucent and illuminated by a light placed behind them.

Referring more particularly to the parts, I indicates a sidewalk, and 2 indicates a curb at the edge of the same. In applying the invention I provide the recess 3, which extends downwardly into the sidewalk from its upper surface, and this recess is preferably elongated in a direction at right angles to the curb.

The construction preferably includes a metal .55 sign-box 4, which is set in the recess and which may be secured in place by means of a marginal flange 5, which, if desired, may be anchored in the cement of the sidewalk by fastening devices 6 of any suitable construction. The sign-box 4 includes an inwardly projecting flange 1 that 5 projects inwardly from its vertical side walls t, and this ange I supports a' cover 9 of transparent material such as glass. This cover 9 is, of course, of considerable depth or thickness to insure that it will not become broken by the weight 10 of a person stepping upon it. Its edge is provided with a channel I0 of metal that extends continuously al1 around it, and this channel preferably rests upon a rubber gasket II on the upper side of the flange 1. l5 The sign-box 4 is preferably elongated in the direction at right angles to the curb 2. At an intermediate point under the cover and preferably at its middle point, I provide two signs I2 and I3. These signs are in an inclined plane and have 20 their upper edges I4 adjacent to each other. Each sign is preferably held in a guide plate or frame I5, and the upper edges of these guide frames may abut against each other, as shown in Fig. 2. The guide frames I5 may be connected 25 together by a cross bar IS. The signs I2 and I3 are preferably composed of separate plates I1, each of which carries a letter, and these plates may be slipped into position from the ends ofv the guide frames I5 so as to set up any reading 30 matter desired. The signs I2 and I3 are preferably disposed at an angle of about 45 to the vertical, so that when a person approaches from the right side, for example, as viewed in Fig. 2, he will be able to read the sign I3, but the sign 35 l2 will have its edge presented to him so that it will not be visible until the person has passed the sign I3. In this way it will be evident that persons passing in both directions, can read one of the signs, but the sign that faces in the opposite 40 direction will be substantially invisible so that it will not interfere with the reading of the sign that is intended to be presented to View. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the signs I2 and I3 are of opaque ma- 45 terial with the letters of the sign of a color to contrast with the background of the sign. In this case each sign is illuminated from a point on the interior of the box 4, preferably by means of two lamps I8, which are disposed at a suit- 50 able distance apart so as to give a uniform lighting to the area of the sign. I prefer to provide a pair of reector plates I9 corresponding to each lamp so that the lamp is placed at the angle between these. plates, which diverge from each other toward the sign; and between the lamps and the sign, I prefer to employ an inclined diffusion plate 20, the lower edge of which rests against the bottom edge of the adjacent sign frame I5, the upper edge resting against the end of the flange 1.

It will be evident that it is not essential to employ this diffusion plate, but it assists in producing a uniform lighting effect on all the letters of the sign, which is desirable. When this plate is used, however, the reflector plates I9 must be of substantially triangular form, because their tips willx lie in the angle 2| between the diffusion plate and the bottom wall of the box 4.

In Figure 3 I illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which the signs 22 are transparent or translucent signs with contrasting letters, so that the sign can be illuminated readily from the rear. In this case I use a plurality of lamps such as the lamp 23, which is disposed in the space between the two signs. In this way the illuminating means is common to both signs.

In order to facilitate access to the sign, I prefer to have the cover 9 secured to the upper edge o the box 4 by hinges 2l.

What I claim is:

1. In an illuminated sidewalk sign, the combination of a recess form'ed in the upper face of the sidewalk and extending down into the interior thereof, a movable transparent cover closing the recess on its upper side at the upper face oi' the sidewalk, a pair of signs located at an intermediate point under the cover extending in a horizontal direction, said signs being located in planes inclined in opposite directions with respect to each other and with theupper edges of the signs adjacent to each other so that a person approaching on the sidewalk in a direction lying in the plane substantially at right angles to the direction in which the signs extend, will see the side face of the nearest sign and only the edge of the opposite sign; and means for illuminating the signs.

2. In an illuminated sidewalk sign, the combination of a recess formed in the upper face of the sidewalk and extending down into the interior thereof, a movable transparent cover closing the recess on its upper side'at the upper face of the sidewalk, a pair of signs located at an intermediate point under the cover extending in a horizontal direction, said signs being located in planes inclined in opposite directions with respect to each other and with the upper edges of l0 the'signs adjacent to each other so that a'person approaching on the sidewalk in a direction lying in the plane substantially at right angles to the direction in which the signs extend, will see the side face of the nearest sign and only the edge of 15 Athe opposite sign; a lamp mounted in front of each sign with an inclined diiusion plate between each lamp and the sign that it illuminates, said diffusion plate having itslower edge adjacent the 2 planes inclined in opposite directions with respect o to each other and with the upper edges of the signs adjacent to each other so that a person approaching on the sidewalk in a direction lying in the plane substantially at right angles to the direction in which the signs extend, Will see the 35 side face of the nearest sign and only the edge of the opposite sign; said signs being translucent, and illuminating means common to both signs located between the signs.

EI'HA M. BURY. 40 

